Analysts: Miriam's relevance among youth was unmatched

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- No other politician has captivated the imagination and hearts of young Filipinos like the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, an analyst said Sunday.

For University of the Philippines political analyst Aries Arugay, Santiago's relevance among the youth can be attributed to how she positioned herself in politics as reflected in the number of bills she had filed and the speeches she had given.

"The Philippines is a very young society and no politician has captivated the fans and the imagination of the youth as Miriam Defensor-Santiago," Arugay said, noting that Santiago had been very moderate in her political positions.

"Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is one of the very few politicians who have served all three branches of government and that speaks to her survival abilities, as well as her ability to traverse extreme political affiliations," Arugay said, adding that even as a student at the University of the Philippines, Santiago was already moderate.

For his part, historian Manolo Quezon said Santiago adopted issues which were popular among the youth. "She became the incarnation of the concerns that many young people had after the EDSA Revolution," he said.

"Even at this particular point, we're witnessing the high motions of people who have kept their loyalties to her up to the very end, especially among young people," he said. "It would be fair to say that if we have a sort of political landscape today, that she played a large part in making it happen for better or worse depending on your view."

Santiago passed away in her sleep last September 28 at the age of 71.

She will be buried beside her son, Alexander, at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina on Sunday.